Piano-action.



No. 774,507. PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

U. G. CLARK. PIANO ACTION.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1904.

no MODEL.

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Patented November 8, 1904.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ULYSSES G. CLARK, OF IVORYTON, CONNECTICUT.

PIANO-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,507, dated November 8, 1904.

Application filed August 10, 1904. Serial No. 220,164. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ULYssEs G. CLARK, a citifull, clear, and exact description of the same,

and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a side View of the rail and the hammer-block hinged thereto in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a top or plan view of a portion of the flange and fingers; Fig. 3, an edgeview of the same; Fig. 4, a perspective view of the cap or plate detached; Fig. 5, an end view of the flange and cap, showing the head on the flange and a groove in the cap.

This invention relates to an improvement in piano-actions, and particularly to the means for connecting the hammer-blocks with the rail, and has for its object to cheapen the construction of the action, to make possible more perfect alinement of the parts, to hold them firmly in place, and facilitate the repairing of the action when necessary; and the invention consists in the. construction as hereinafter described, and claims.

In illustrating my invention I have shown only so much of the piano-action as is necessary for the understanding of the invention, A representing the main rail, and B the hammer-block, which is hinged thereto. As a means for hinging the hammer-block to the rail, I secure to the rail a plate or flange C, with a series of projections D, corresponding to the number of hammer-blocks to be pivoted. The flange C may be one continuous strip or may be made up in sections of greater or less length. In the face of each of the projections 1) is a transverse groove E, which receives the center pins F in the hammer-blocks, which are clamped therein by means of flangecaps G, which are connected with the fingers D by set-screws H. To assist in holding these caps in proper alinement, they are provided with heads I, adapted to enter a longitudinal groove J, formed in the face of the main plate particularly recited in the or flange C. Instead, however, of forming the bead I on the cap G and the groove J in the plate or flange the location of this bead and groove may be reversed, as shown in Fig. 5, in which a head I is formed on the plate or flange C and a groove J is formed in the adjacent. face of the cap G.

If desired, a series of springs K may be secured to the face of the flange by soldering or otherwise, the springs projectingupward over the lower ends of the caps Gr, so as to assist in holding them in position when the screws H are removed for repairs or otherwise; but these springs are not essential.

The advantages of my improved construction will be readily apparent, as I avoid the use of pins frequently employed to hold the caps against turning, these pins usually being provided by driving the pin into the flange or by striking up a projection. In either case the metal is expanded, throwing the centerpin grooves E out of alinement, whereas the grooves and projections above described can be readily formed and instead of making alinement diflicult assures nearly perfection.

' I Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A pianoaction comprising a rail and a hammer-block, means for hinging the block to the rail consisting of a flange having projecting fingers, caps secured to said fingers and clamping the center pins between them, a bead and groove connection between the lower end of the cap and the said flange, substantially as described.

2. In a piano-action, a main rail, a hammerblock, and means for coupling the two together, comprising a flange having fingers and a longitudinal groove, and .caps secured to said fingers and clamping the center pins thereto, said caps provided with beads adapted to enter the grooves inthe flange, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

ULYSSES Gr. CLARK. Witnesses:

ALICE M. STEvENs, HOWARD K. Rosn. 

